Marathon hero Kevin Sinfield’s knighthood possibilities soar because of the Daily Star marketing campaign
Even the bookies are backing our call for the rugby ace who has raised £11m to find a cure for motor neurone disease to get a gong
The chances of Kevin Sinfield getting a knighthood for his marathon fundraising have rocketed thanks to the Daily Star.
Bookies say the rugby ace – who has just run seven ultra-marathons in seven days to raise £1.35m to find a cure for motor neurone disease – is now a 3-1 shot to get a gong. Before his near 200-mile trek across Britain and Ireland – the sixth successive year he has completed the gruelling challenge – the odds of him becoming ‘Sir Kev’ were 5-1.
Landing such an honour would normally have been against all odds for Kevin, 45, as it would require a rule change.
The marathon man got an OBE in 2021 for his services to rugby league and a CBE in the 2024 New Year Honours List for his charity work and gong protocol suggests folk should wait three years before getting further accolades.
But the Daily Star has launched a campaign to recognise his achievement in netting a total of £11m for the cause now – and 50,000 fans have signed an online petition agreeing.
Darts ace Luke Littler, 18, has given the gong his backing after donating thousands of pounds of his winnings to the cause. While TV presenter Piers Morgan, House of Commons’ speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Lindsey Burrow – the widow of Kevin’s former Great Britain and Leeds Rhino team mate Rob who died last year aged 41 after a five-year battle against the disease – have also joined the campaign.
The Prince of Wales tweeted Kevin his congratulations for completing his latest challenge.
The current England rugby union coach has vowed to run the ultra-marathons for a seventh time next year – to match the number on Rob’s shirt – raising even more cash. Fans are already calling the People’s Knight ‘Sir Kev’.
And bookmaker William Hill said public momentum had caused Sinfield’s chances of getting the accolade in the New Year Honours to soar. Spokesman Lee Phelps said: “Kevin Sinfield’s support of close friend Rob Burrow throughout his battle with motor neurone disease and incredible fundraising efforts have led to many major names across sport, politics and entertainment calling for him to receive a knighthood.
“Convention says a knighthood doesn’t usually arrive within three years of a CBE. But the clamour is growing for his famous moniker of ‘Sir’ Kev to be made real.”
Lee said the bookmaker had pledged its support too. Like Kevin, William Hill’s parent company evoke has selected the Motor Neurone Disease Association as its chosen charity.
“We have seen the devastation this cruel disease causes to the victims and their families and we couldn’t be prouder of Kevin,” Lee said.
There’s certainly a fair chance of Sinfield becoming a Sir, with the former Rugby League star 3/1 – the equivalent of a 25% chance – to appear on the King’s New Year Honours List.
Andy Bell, 49, chairman of Featherstone Lions Rugby Club in Wakefield where Burrow played as a youngster, called on the rule book to be re-written so Kevin can get his sir-hood. He said Kevin ‘should have been knighted by now really’.
“What he has done is quite exceptional,” he said.
“I know that there is a rule that says he cannot be honoured within three years of his last honour. People don’t really know about that rule around here and he would be as good a reason as any to break that rule. The fans already call him Sir Kevin.”
Independent peer Lord John Mann has said: “Protocol should be overridden in this case, absolutely. The public acclamation demands it.”
